Apparatus for conveying the workholding tables of a continuouslymoving series of tables



Nov. 27, 192s. 11,693,534

F. B. WALDRON APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING THE WORKHOLDING TABLES 0F A CONTINUOUSLY MOVING SERIES OF TABLES Filed Aug. l1, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet, l

M7 Wg Nov. 27, 1928. v 1,693,534

F. B. WALDRON APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING THE WORKHOLDING TABLES OF A CONTINUOUSLY MOVING SERIES 0F TABLES Filed Aug. 11, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 27, 1928.

F'. B. WALDRON Filed Aug. l1, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

rnnnnnro siennes; wannnoii, er senseo-ri, Einstein),

assiettes To rinninsroit Bno'rnisns LIMITED', 01s' L'Ivnnroon, ENGLAND, A nir/tiran LrnBILITY COMPANY 0F GREAT BRITAIN.

AP'PAnATUs ron ooiivnr'mernn' wonnnoinmsirasnns or A ooNrrNoiIsnY- Moviie sn'nrns or TABLES.

Application l'ed August 11', 1824, Serial No. 731,385, and in Great Britain August 23, 1923.

This invention relates to apparatus for conveying the work-holding tables of a continuously moving series of tables of the type in which a series of tables pass from one end tothe other of the apparatus, andhas.

for its object improved apparatus whereby the tables are transported from 'the finishing to the starting' end of the apparatus.

According to thisY invention, ak table, on reaching the finishingend of the apparatus, is pushed on to an elevator so as to be free of the following tables and the elevator is then lowered so asto lering the table on toa' runway situated below the'level of the con`l tinuously moving series of tables. rl`h`e table is transported on this runway to the starting end of the apparatus andit is there liftedby an elevator to the level at which the workis executed and then pushed so as to come into Contact with the next preceding table and engage-with the driving gear of the apparatus. Y

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and la` together form aside view of the apparat-us, with the central portion andthe runway omitted, and Figure 2 is an end elevation of the finishingend of the apparatus with the table in section,`

Referring' to the drawings, the startinr and finishing-ends of the framework` whichV supports th'e'taloles of the grinding apparatus, are shown at 1 and 2 respectively,

and?) and Ll respectively are portions of the rst and last tables on the said framework, while 5 is a tableV about` to be addedat the start of the series'oftables ando is a table being?removedfromlthe` end of the series.

,The mech'anisin atthe'two ends of the apparatus" isto 'afgreatextent similar, and similar parts at the two ends'are designated by the same" reference number. l

The' tables 5 and Gare supportedon plat# forms v7 provided with guidin'gsurfaces l1 similarto thoseon the lixedfranieworlr 1, 2,fso"thatwhenA the' platforms? are inthe positions shown, they form extensions of the framework 1, 2."

The platforms 7 are VVattached'to verticalv supports 8 adapted' to slide vertically in guides QonL fixed support-s 10; means of" ythe said guides 9, the platforms '1" can be when loi 7ered and raised, so that, at the nnishing end, the table 6 is lowered until guidino surfaces 12 on it, rest on a series of wheels 13, 13 and 13, of which the shafts are supported in journals 14 and turned by means to be hereinafter described, said series of wheels constituting` arunway, stretching below and from one endl to the other of the apparatus. At the starting end, the tablev wnich has been transferred by means of the said runway to this end, is raised by means of the platform 7 into the position shown at 5.

rlie platforms 7 are raised and lowered by means of connecting rods 15, pivoted at their upper ends tothe platforms at 16 and at their lower ends to crank pins 17'on wheels 18,' the pins 17 being journalled in blocks 19 adapted toslide on the connecting rods l5, but limited in their downward motion byA stops 2O.`

Each plat-form 7 when loaded with a table, is overcounterbalanced by a weight 21 attachedto the support S of said platform, Vbyv a vchain 22 passing over a pulleyl 23, so that the platform tends to rise until arrested by the block 19 coming against the stop 20.

rEhe wheels 1S are turned in the directions shown by the aii'rows, by means to be herein# er de: ibcd and, considering Vthe inechsm the finishing end of the apparat s, the wheel 18, in turning from the position shown in the drawings, draws down the platform' carri-,fing the table 6 .until the latt'errests on the runway wheels 13 and 13 by which the table caused to travel towards the starting end of the apparatus. T he table is ln'oughtto rest on the4 runway wheels 13" andl before the crank pin 1,7 has reached its lower .dead centrevso that there istime for the table to be caried away bythe runway from above the platforni, while the wheel 18 turnsfinther, :ari-ying' the pin 17', through the dead centre and first further lowering'the platform 7 and then raising'it again before the platform is raised above the level of the table. Continued rotation of the wheel'18 raises the platform until the registering stop 2e thereon engages with the stop 25 on the end of the' framework 1,2. The stops 24 and 25 engage when the`cranl; pin 17 is'approximately one-sixth of a revolut-ion of the wheel 18, from its upper dead centre, and any further rotation of the wheel causes the block 19 to slide up the connecting rod 15, while the platform 7 remains stationary and in posit-ion to receive another table.

The operation of the mechanism at the starting end is similar to that at the finishing end, except that the platform 7 rises with a table 5 and descends without a table.

The table 6 is pushed partially on to the platform 7 by the pressure on its end surface of the table 4, which is moved by the means employed for traversing` the series of tables along the framework 1, 2. As soon as the table has been pushed nearly to the desired extent on to the platform 7 it is pushed further on to it and clear of the table 4e by means of the pushers 2G acting on lugs 27 on the table 6, The pushers 26 are fast to a rock shaft 2S turning` about a fixed axis and one of them forms one arm of a lever of which the other arm 29 is pivoted at 30 to the upper end of the pusher connecting rod 31. rihe lower end of the pusher connecting rod 31 is pivoted to a crank pin 32 on a crank 33 on a shaft 34:.

By rotation of the crank shaft 3l anticlockwise from the upper dead centre (with reference to the pin 30) through half a. turn, the pusher 26 is moved from left to right, first moving into engagement with the lug 27 and then pushing the table G along the platform 7 until it is clear of the table 4f.

At the starting end` the table 5, after being raised'into position by the platform 7 has to be pushed forwards into contact with thetable 3 until it is engaged with the means employed for traversing the series of tables.

This pushing is effected by a pair of pushers 39 fast to a rock shaft 40 turning about a fixed axis and one of them forms one arm of a lever of which the other arm 41 is pivoted at 12 to a block 35 adapted to Vslide on a connecting rod 14, but pressed upwards by the siring 36, its 'tuiward motion being limited by the stop 37. The lower end of the connecting rod #tel is plvoted on a crank pin 45 on a crank 1G on a shaft 17.

Rotation of the crank-shaft /17 clockwise causes the pushers 39 to move to the right from the position shown in Figure 1 and to push the table 5 against the first table 3 of the series of tables. rEhe extent of the pushing` motion is such that the table 5 is pushed against the table 3 a little before the crank-pin 45 is at its dead centre with reference to the pivot 12. The continued rotation of the crank-shaft 417 over the dead centre moves the connecting rod all to come press the spring 36 and thereby to keep the table 5 pressed against the table 3 for a certain interval of time before the pusher-s 39 are moved to the left away from the table -means of the tables in such ratios shaft L17.

3a and Y runway The wheels 18, the crank-shafts L17 and the wheels 13 and 13 of the are all geared together and to the that, in the time required for the traverse of one table a distance equal to its length, there correspond, one revolution of the wheels 18, six revolutions of the crank shafts 34 and 17 and the travel of a table from the finishing end of the grinding)` Vapparatus to the starting end, such travel comprising the pushing of the table by pushers 2G and the 'lowen ing andrraising of the table on the platforms 7 and the travel of the table on the runway wheels 13.

The several parts are so timed that, at the. finishing end, the table G overhangs the framework 2 before the platform 7 rises to support it, to an extent sufficient to enable the pushers 23 to engage the lugs 27 and push the table on to the platform before the latter descends. At the starting end, after the table 5 has been pushed by the pushers 39, the i'ilatform 7 descends while nearly half the length of the table 5 overhangs the framework 1,.

rEhe several parts may be geared together and driven by any convenient mechanism suoli as that shown diagrannnatically in Figures 1 and 1a but omitted from Figure Q.

rilfhe shaft 1S is the main driving shaftV and drives the wheel 18 at the starting end by pinion 410, wheel 50, pinion 51, wheel 52, pinion 53, wheel 5-1 which is on the crank shaft 17 and pinion The shaft 43 also drives the longitudinal shaft 56 by bevel gear 57 and the said shaft 56 drives the longitudinal shaft 58 which extends to the finishing` end of the grinding apparatus and is shown only by a broken line,'by wheels 59, 6() and 61. The shaft drl ies the crank-shaft let by bevel gear wheels G3, 6ft and G5, pinion G5, wheel (37, pinion G3 and wheel 69 and the ci'a'iil-i-sliaft 3l drives the wheel 1S at the finishing end by pinion 71. Y

rllhe shaft 53 also drives each ol' the shafhf: of the runway wheels 13 by bevel gears 7 2, T he shafts 70 of the runway wheels 13 are driven by chains 73 from the adjacent shafts 70, aud the wheels 13 are idle` The shaft 5G also drives the shaft 74 which drives the tables by. a pinion 93 and rack 941 (Fig ure 2) through wheel 75, pinion 7G, wheel 77, pinionV 73, wheel 79, pinion 30, bevel gear countershaft 83, wheels and countershaft 86, wheel 37 and a wheel on shaft behind wheel S7.

The shaft S3 carries a pinion adapted to drive the tables similar to that :arried liv shaft 74. and is connected to shaft 7l by wheels 89, and 75. l` he wheel 39 however not fast to the shaft 8S but is connected driving 7 (lit llt)

Vsprings Ql'attached between the wheelrSQ` with it by a spring driving device of anylnown type, indicated diagrammatically by of this spring drivingfdevice, the table canbefengaged with its driving means carried by shaft 88 at whatever moment it is pushed against table 3 oy the pushers 39, and the table is then driven by the shaft 88 until itfconies intok engagement with the main` driving vmeans carried by Vshaft 74.

VThe invention is not limited `tothe form of apparatus shown and described. and this maybe varied vwidely in mechanical construction; thus, for example, the runway shown; could be replaced by several known tries of runwa andan t De of olatforn'i .f Y a 1 raising and lowering-gear winch admits of theV introduction "off a lost motion device could Vbe employed in place of that shown,

a hydraulic orv pneumatic raisingA Further and lowering Agear may beemployed and, instead of a mec ianical lost motion device, stops capable of 'withstanding the hydraulic or pneumatic pressure may be provided 4lo limit theirise of the platform. y

Further,- it `is notiessential that the lowering, transporting and raising devices should be geared so as-to operate continuously, and they may befoperated intermittefiitlyu `so as to deal with each table as it reaches a position adapted for engagement by the pushing and lowering devices. Such intermittent operation may be controlled by switches or valves operated by the travel of the last table or by a cam gear operated by the driving mechanism of the series of tables.

Having described my invention, I declare thatfwhat l claim and desire to secure by Y Letters Patent is z-f' l. Apparatus for conveying the workholding tables of a continuously moving series of tables from the linishing end to the starting end` of their operative course, comprising in combination with said continuously moving series of tables, means adapted to lower the table to be conveyed, to a level below that of the continuously moving series of tables, means operative to convey said table at this'lower level to .the starting end, means operative to raise this table at the starting end to the level of the continuously moving series of tables, means adapted to push the table to be conveyed, on to the lowering means, and means adapted elast-ieally to push said table against the first table of the series.

2. in apparatus for conveying the workholding tables of a continuously moving series of tables from the finishing end to the starting end of their operative course, the combination'with said continuously moving series of tables, and a stationary frame having` guiding surfaces for the'tables, of falling shaft, a crank-pair ing and rising platforms kadapted y respectively to lower and raise the table to be `conveyed, to and from a level below thatof the continuously moving seriesof tables, a continuously rotating crank-shaft operative to.

lower and raise each ofthe platforms, a connecting rod operatively connecting together the platform and ,the crank-pin, a journal slidable on the connecting rod, a stop Von the rod limiting this movement of the journal on the connecting rod and a weight tenda ing -to lift the platform.

`Inapparatusfor conveying the workholding tablesof a continuously moving series of tables from the 'finishing end to the starting end of their operative course, the combination 4with seid continuously moving series of tables-oi' a pivoted lever of which one arm.A is ada ated to eneae Ithe table c f ze n to be conveyed and `topush it, a continuously rotatingrshafha crank-pair motion operatively connecting the said `shaft with the other arm of the lever, means adapted to lower the table to be conveyed, to a level below that :of the continuouslyV moving series of tables, ineansjoperative to convey said table-atthis lower level to the starting end,

and means adapted to raise this table to the y level of the series of tables.

l. In apparatus for conveying the work-` hol'ding tables of a continuously moving series of tables from the finishing end to the starting end of their operative course, the combination with said continuously moving series of tables, of a pivoted lever of which one arm is adapted to engage the table foremost of the series to push it away from the next following table, a'continuously rotatmotion operatively connecting the said shaft with the other arm of the lever, means adapted to lower the table to be conveyed, to a level below that of the continuously moving series of tables, means operative to convey said table at thisI lower level .to the starting end, means adapted to raise this table to the level of the series of tables, a second pivoted lever of which one arm is adapted to engage this raised table to push it against the rear of the next preceding table, a second continuously rotating shaft, and a second crankpair motion operatively connecting this shaft with the other arm of the second pivoted lever.

v5. In apparatus for conveying the workholding tables of a continuously moving series of tables from the finishing end to the starting end of their operative course, the combination with said continuously moving series of tables, of a pivot-ed lever of which one arm is adapted to engage the table forenost of the series to push it away from the next following table, a continuously rotating shaft, a crank-pair motion operatively connecting the said shaft with the other arm of lli the lever, means adapted to lower the table lto be conveyed, lto a level below that of the continuously moving series of tables, meanstables, a second pivoted lever of which one arm is adapted to engage this raised table to push it against the rear of the next preceding table, a second continuously rotating shaft, a second crank-pair motion operatively connecting this shaft with vthe other arm of the second pivoted lever, and -a springpressed lost motion device whereby the table is pressed rcsilientlyl against the first table or the series during a portion of a revolution or' the second continuously `rotating shaft.

(5.' In apparatus for conveying the worlr holding tables of a continuously moving series or' tables from the finishing end to the starting end of their operative course, the combination with said continuously moving series or' tables, of means operative to propel the tables, means operative to automatically advance the leading table away from the next following one at the finishing end ol the series, means adapted to automatically lower the said leading table, means adapted to automatically convey the said lowered table beneath the succeeding tables of the series, means adapted to automatically raise the same table to the level of the travelling series of tables, and means adapted to automatically push this same table against the rear o1" the next preceding tableyall operating continuously and in timed relationship whereby tables are automatically removed from the iinishing end and added to the starting end of their operative course.

7. In apparatus for conveying the workholding tables of a continuously moving series o1E tables from the finishing end to the starting end'of their operative course, the combination with said continuously moving series of tables and main driving means operative to propel said series, of auxiliary driving means adapted to push forward the table last added to the series the auxiliary and main driving means being in operative connection with each other, and a spring driving device in the auxiliary driving means adapted to push the said added table resiliently against the next preceding table of the series, whereby the table so added may be pushed at any moment, into engagement with the said auxiliary driving meansand driven thereby into operative engagement with the main driving means.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature hereto.

FREDERIC BARNES VALDRON. 

